The Des Moines Lincoln High Class of 1973 will celebrate (if that’s the word for it) their collective sixtieth birthdays at Zimm’s Food & Spirits at 3124 Ingersoll Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312, (515) 277-9929 at 6:00 to 11:00+ PM, Saturday, August 15, 2015. Pony up fifteen bucks at the door and we will feed you snacks, pop, beer and super delicious Lincoln High birthday cake for a few minutes, until it runs out. After that, you can buy your own food and drink at Zim’s, a fine purveyor of pub food. Our expert reunion organizers have taste-tested the menu and have pronounced it Railsplitter-worthy.

Classmates, now is no time to falter as we enter the back third of our lives, no time to take counsel of our fears and failures, no time to shrink from the big Six Oh. Embrace it, my fearless classmates, EMBRACE IT! Dance with it. Get it drunk. Do your will with it.

Classmate Liane Lipsey Cooper lost her mother last week. Here is the obituary from the Arizona Daily Star:

Joan Lipsey born in Council Bluffs, Iowa on December 26, 1930, died on March 16, 2015 in Tucson, Arizona.

During Joan’s lifetime she lived in Iowa, California, Germany, Nebraska, Connecticut and Arizona. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs and continued her education in Advanced Dance in Chicago, Illinois and New York City. She also trained as a lab technician, “In case I broke a leg.” She was a retired teacher of dance (at one time she had three studios in Iowa). Besides Iowa, she also taught dance and aerobics—every kind—in Omaha, NE, Riverside, CA, Kaufbeum, Germany, Norwalk, CT, and Tucson, AZ.

She participated in the Omaha Community Theater activities as a technician and stage manager 1952-1954. Joan acted and danced in various productions of the Chanticlair Theatre Group Council Bluffs, IA, and theatre productions at Kaufbeum, Germany. She and Al moved to Tucson in 1983.

It was in Tucson that Joan became a “professional volunteer.” Her activities included membership of the Advisory Board of the UA College of Nursing; President of the UA Friends of the Cancer Center; member of the committees of the Friends of the UA Sarver Heart Center and UA Arthritis Center.

Joan and Al married in December 1954 at Offutt Air Force Base, NA. Her memory will live on forever since everyone who had the privilege of knowing her will never forget her pleasant smile, warmth, loving nature and sharp mind. She was a strong and courageous woman with tremendous spirit and will to live.

Joan’s family would like to thank the Staff of TMC Hospice for their care and gracious comfort given. Also a special thanks for the wonderful care given Joan by her caregivers, Jacki Parks, Brenda Gooch and the caregivers from Arcadia. Joan will be missed as her life was summed up in love, courage and faith. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at East Lawn Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to The Jewish History Museum, 564 S. Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85701. Arrangements by EAST LAWN PALMS MORTUARY.

Janet was born on May 12, 1955, the daughter of Charles and Carmen (Fazio) Kauzlarich in Des Moines. She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1973. Janet was an administrative assistant at Gilcrest Jewett Lumber Co. for 31 years. She enjoyed baking and bowling. Janet was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church

Janet is survived by her siblings, Phillip (Connie) Kauzlarich and Carmen (Tony) Kauzlarich-Cataldo; her nieces and many great nieces and great nephews; her dog, Charlie; longtime friend, Mike Liddy; a host of extended family and beloved friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Charles “Chuck” Kauzlarich.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 9, 2014 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 15 Indianola Road followed by burial at Glendale Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for Janet’s “Go Fund Me” account to cover her medical expenses. Gofundme.com/fhj7co.

**Please note the construction on SW 9th Street, there is still access to the funeral home from Kenyon off of SW 14th St. and SW 9th Street coming from the north. There is additional parking available in the north grassy lots off of Kenyon. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Larry Lee Peterson, Jr., 58, passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A Memorial Gathering will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 2, 2014 at McLaren’s Chapel in West Des Moines with private family inurnment at Oakwood Cemetery in Pleasant Hill.

Larry was born June 15, 1955 in Des Moines, IA. He was a route salesman for Earthgrains Baking Company. Larry was a U.S. Army Veteran and a member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, loved fishing, reading, and vacationing with his family. Larry also enjoyed traveling on his motorcycle, and visited 40 states and Canada.

Rich Cross has been diagnosed with lung cancer and will start radiation therapy Monday. He may not be up for phone calls but cards would be nice to support him with his struggle. Please send them to his home address at 304 7th Street, WDMIA 50265-4515. That’s his pix up above from the last reunion, lurking outside Baratta’s.

Rich has helped with the class reunions since our golden tassels were still swinging from our maroon mortarboards, back when we were young and invincible. While a couple crews running the reunion came and went, Rich has stayed with it all along, mostly handling the money and acting as moral ballast in the tempestuous sea of class reunions. If you liked the reunions, why don’t you dash a note off to him? It would be a great comfort to him to know your thoughts and prayers are with him.

Joseph Daniel Marturello, age 84, of West Des Moines, passed away at Mercy Hospice in Johnston on Saturday, December 21, 2013. Joe was born on November 25, 1929 to Frank and Lyndall Marturello in Des Moines. He married Thelma Hamil on November 13, 1948.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; brother, John Marturello; niece Jane Grim; nephew, Michael Baker; newborn sister, Mary and two infant siblings.

Joe attended Lincoln High School. He began his career at Solar Industries for a few years, and then worked 28 years as a welder at John Deere in Ankeny, retiring in 1987. Joe spent most of his retirement years playing golf with his close friends at A.H. Blank Golf Course in Des Moines. He accomplished three holes in one while doing so. As a very kind and generous man, Joe was so mechanically inclined that he could and did help all relatives and friends build and fix everything at anytime his help was needed. He was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-granddaughter and enjoyed all of their school performances, sporting events and everything else they were involved in. He enjoyed the many years of coaching his two sons at the South Des Moines Little League and took great pride in how well they did. Family time spent together was a great joy for him and he will be missed dearly.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 26, 2013 at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street. A private family burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Per Joe’s wishes, his body has been cremated.

Michael L. Steven, 58, passed away peacefully December 6, 2013. He was born March 16, 1955 in Des Moines to Pete and Flora (Fisher) Steven.

Mike was a life-long resident of Des Moines. He was employed for many years by the State of Iowa as a Graphic Artist. He was a member of the Umpire Association of Des Moines and was a basketball referee. He was an avid sports fan – and loved Sunday night football! Mike took pleasure in coaching his girls and watching them play sports. He was a talented artist who loved his family, friends and loyal companions, Blitz and Havok. Mike will be greatly missed by all.

Mike is survived by his daughters, Maribeth (Benn) Stockton and Michelle Steven; father, Pete Steven; four nieces; one great niece; one great nephew; and many other loving relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Flora and step-mother, Nancy.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street. A private family burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Garden Cemetery. Family will greet friends on Wednesday at the funeral home from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.